The Office on Violence Against Women has launched a new funding initiative, O-OVW-2024-171905, titled “OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Legal Assistance for Victims Grant Program Expanding Legal Services Initiative.” This discretionary grant, focusing on law, justice, and legal services, has earmarked an estimated total program funding of $3.2 million. It aims to significantly enhance the availability of legal assistance for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The program is set to make a profound impact with an expected distribution of 8 awards, each ranging from $399,000 to $400,000.
A unique aspect of this grant is its Expanding Legal Services Initiative (ELSI), designed to enable organizations, especially those not currently offering legal services, to establish programs providing legal representation to victims of various forms of violence. Eligibility is broad, encompassing private nonprofit entities, territorial organizations, Indian tribal governments, and tribal organizations in the U.S. or its territories. The comprehensive nature of this grant includes assistance in family, tribal, territorial, immigration, employment, and other legal matters. Moreover, it supports criminal justice investigations, prosecutions, post-trial matters, alternative dispute resolution, restorative practices, and post-conviction relief proceedings. This initiative, by equipping organizations to offer direct legal services, marks a significant stride in providing crucial support to victims, ensuring their safety, privacy, and autonomy.
Opportunity ID: 351510
General Information
| Document Type: | Grants Notice |
| Funding Opportunity Number: | O-OVW-2024-171905 |
| Funding Opportunity Title: | OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Legal Assistance for Victims Grant Program Expanding Legal Services Initiative |
| Opportunity Category: | Discretionary |
| Opportunity Category Explanation: | |
| Funding Instrument Type: | Grant |
| Category of Funding Activity: | Law, Justice and Legal Services |
| Category Explanation: | |
| Expected Number of Awards: | 8 |
| CFDA Number(s): | 16.524 — Legal Assistance for Victims |
| Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: | No |
| Version: | Synopsis 1 |
| Posted Date: | Dec 14, 2023 |
| Last Updated Date: | Dec 14, 2023 |
| Original Closing Date for Applications: | Feb 13, 2024 |
| Current Closing Date for Applications: | Feb 13, 2024 |
| Archive Date: | |
| Estimated Total Program Funding: | $ 3,200,000 |
| Award Ceiling: | $400,000 |
| Award Floor: | $399,000 |
Eligibility
| Eligible Applicants: | Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled “Additional Information on Eligibility” for clarification) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) |
| Additional Information on Eligibility: | Eligible applicants are limited to: Private nonprofit entities, territorial organizations, Indian tribal governments, and tribal organizations in the United States or U.S. territories. For more information, see the Eligibility Information section of this solicitation. |
Additional Information
| Agency Name: | Office on Violence Against Women |
| Description: | The Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program (CFDA 16.524) is intended to increase the availability of civil and criminal legal assistance needed to effectively aid victims (ages 11 and older) of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking by providing funds for comprehensive direct legal services to victims in legal matters relating to or arising out of that abuse or violence. “Legal assistance” includes assistance to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in: a) family, tribal, territorial, immigration, employment, administrative agency, housing matters, campus administrative, or protection or stay away order proceedings, and other similar matters; b) criminal justice investigations, prosecutions, and post-trial matters (including sentencing, parole, and probation) that impact the victim’s safety and privacy; c) alternative dispute resolution, restorative practices, or other processes intended to promote victim safety, privacy, and autonomy; and d) post-conviction relief proceedings in state, local, Tribal, or territorial court where the conviction of a victim is related to or arising from domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or sex trafficking. 34 U.S.C. § 12291(a)(24)(C). The LAV Grant Program’s Expanding Legal Services Initiative (ELSI) is intended to enable eligible organizations that do not currently offer legal services to establish a program that provides legal representation to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Organizations funded under this solicitation may be eligible for up to five years of funding, two years under this solicitation and an additional three years of noncompetitive funding, provided certain financial and programmatic conditions are met. |
| Link to Additional Information: | Full Announcement |
| Grantor Contact Information: | If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact: For assistance with the requirements of this solicitation, email OVW at OVW.LAV@usdoj.gov. Alternatively, interested parties may call OVW at 202-307-6026.
hanna.katz@usdoj.gov |